The potential arrival of a new striker will leave whoever starts in tonight’s Carling Cup 2nd round game against Leicester City desperate to impress manager Simon Grayson in an attempt to cement a place in the first team. After Davide Somma’s influential appearance from the bench on Saturday against Millwall (match report here) he will be hoping for an extended run in the team, possibly alongside the ever-industrious Luciano Becchio.

The game against Leicester City looks set to be the first of the season for Max Gradel after the Ivorian completed his four match ban picked up after his dismissal against Bristol Rovers in the final game of last season. The winger’s return (against his old club) provides an enviable selection problem for Simon Grayson who has seen both Lloyd Sam and Sanchez Watt make great starts to the season. I predict that there may be one or two changes to tonight’s line-up to the one that started against Millwall with Grayson looking to build on Saturday’s good performance and give opportunities to other players.

Expectations for this Carling Cup game may divide Leeds fans. I would put preference on a performance over a result as there’s no doubt that last season’s cup runs certainly had an effect on the players’ form towards the end of the campaign. I would however like us to maintain the level shown against Millwall. As much as cup competitions provide extra excitement and good revenue the primary objective this season is consolidation in the league, if not more.

In other news today Leeds United received a £7500 fine and has been warned of their future conduct by the FA following charges over the involvement of players in disruptive scenes versus Nottingham Forest on August 15th. Forest has been fined £12500 and defender Chris Gunter has received a three match ban for his stamp on Leeds player Sanchez Watt.

I reckon Watt and/or Sam have earned a rest already. Let Gradel start for Sam and Somma for Watt.

Good opportunity to politely drop the questionable captain and give Bruce a spin too. IMHO.

Dje

@myself.

Just seen team line-up for tonight. Good to see Grayson is taking note of me!

trueyorxman

Gunter gets a 3 match ban…so he should have been sent off in the 1st place! So we would have had a penalty to win the game…remember that if we miss the play-offs (or automatic promotion!!) by a point or two.

RoystonLUFC

I’m not so sure about last season’s cup runs affecting our game. A long time after we’d been ejected from all cups we were still playing dodgy. Feb, March and April were nervy months for whites’ fans, yet at that time we didn’t really have any more cup distractions. To be honest, I don’t know why our campaign faltered so spectacularly; it’s a mystery to me. But I would like a good cup run. After all, a tough cup game is better than a training session to sharpen us up for the league matches. Just a thought…

mo0g

We wouldnt have had a penalty as the ball was out of play when Gunter (cockney rhyming slang?) stamped on Watt. He should have been sent off though!

Tim Wilsom

3 in 2…. Video adverts for solicitors on LUTV at halftime. Sad, what is this America

Colin

The FA fine is a joke. For both Leeds and Forest. No punches thrown, just handbags. Between the 2 teams that’s £20,000. Now tell me how that is failing to control your players, but Chelsea and Man Utd harrassing the referee isn’t. How many times do you see on Match of the Day, John Terry or Wayne Rooney telling the referee to f’ off? So that’s players in control is it?

Oh and by the way, when Carlisle fans ran on to the pitch after their JPT win over Leeds and hit 3 Leeds players FROM BEHIND, what did the FA do?

They looked into it and decided not to press charges.

So if I understand this right, it’s unacceptable for the Leeds team to react when an opposition player clearly stamps on a Leeds player’s foot, when the ball is out of play (that’s a £7,500 FA fine). However, it’s okay if fans run onto the pitch and punch the opposition players (No charge from the FA).

The FA are clowns.

Benjamin Newsome

@Colin your spot on mate

leedsontour

@ trueyorxman I understand what you mean about Gunter being a straight red during the game, but the ball was out of play at the time, so it wouldn’t have been a penalty. But completely agree with the fact that he should have been sent off during the game, and we would have had a big advantage in those clsoing minutes to get the win.

Ash

I really hope we sign Ross as we need that extra striker because with paynter out we are only left with becks and somma and grella who I think will be loaned out, like somma last year also the rumor that a midfielder from Cardiff shity is coming with Ross to hold talks